Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed Ayush Mhatre as the replacement player for Ruturaj Gaikwad in the ongoing 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. The 17-year-old Mumbai player edged the likes of Salman Nizar and Urvil Patel in the CSK trails. Mhatre is set to join the CSK squad ahead of their eighth match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday, April 20.
Mhatre, who made his first-class debut last year, has already grabbed eyeballs due to his tremendous talent and ball-striking skills. A lot of experts already believe the Mumbai player is the next big thing in cricket. At only 17 years old, Mhatre truly has its world on its feet. However, do you know when he fell in love with the game of cricket? Let's check out.
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All you need to know about Ayush Mhatre
An opening batter, Mhatre was born in July 2007. The 17-year-old hails from a humble background on the outskirts of Mumbai in Virar. Just like his predecessors Rohit Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mhatre also needed to travel a lot of kilometers one way to get good training and top-class cricket facilities, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Ayush Mhatre set to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad in CSK squad
It was Mhatre's grandfather, Laxmikant Naik, who played a pivotal hand in shaping his cricketing journey. The doting grandfather ensured his grandson woke up on time each day and accompanied him to cricket coaching.
“My family used to tell my grandfather not to ruin my sleep, but now they too feel that my sacrifice is paying off,” Ayush told The Indian Express.
Ayush also lavished praise on his parents for not compromising on any of his cricketing needs, despite the financial struggles they faced. The teenager began playing cricket at the age of six, but it was not until he turned 15 that he realized he could make a career out of it. Mhatre featured for Mumbai at the Under-23 level for the first time in December 2023. Just within a few months, he made his debut for the senior state side.
Also Read: LSG vs CSK: 20-Year-Old ‘Guntur Kaaram’ Shaik Rasheed Spices Up his IPL Debut for CSK
Mhatre has played nine first-class matches, amassing 504 runs, including two centuries in the Ranji Trophy. The right-hand batter has also featured in seven List-A matches, scoring 458 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 65.42. Speaking about CSK, the five-time IPL champions finally snapped their five-match losing streak by beating LSG in the IPL 2025 season.
